Where are Metal Separators Positioned in a Plastics Plant?

A Guide to the ideal location for Magnetic Separators, Magnets and Metal Detectors

Determining the best location to remove metal in a Plastics Processing plant can be difficult. To assist plastics engineers, Bunting has released a series of Typical Plant Flowsheets showing ideal locations for metal separators. This blog focuses on the locations, designs and types of Magnetic Separator and Metal Detector commonly used in plastics plants.

A Typical Flowsheet

On the flowsheet, the Plastics plant is divided into different areas and each has potential locations to remove metal. In many cases, a combination of Magnetic Separator and Metal Detector is recommended as the Magnet captures and holds ferrous metal (the vast majority of metal contamination in any plant). This leaves the Metal Detector to focus on removing the more difficult non-ferrous metals whilst minimising product loss and production downtime.

The Equipment

The type and suggested location of Metal Separation equipment is as follows:

On the primary feed into the Bulk Storage Silo to remove metal before it enters the process:

The type and design of Magnetic Separator and Metal Detector and the recommended location has been determined following several decades of working with plastics producers and processors all over the world. There are always variations to plant designs and layouts that mean different types of Metal Separation equipment is needed and an onsite review by a Bunting engineer will help ascertain the best solution.

For further information on removing Metal from a plastics processing plant using Magnetic Separators and Metal Detectors, please contact the Bunting technical sales team on: